Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/John (d.1147)
JOHN (d. 1147), bishop of Glasgow, was a man of learning, who was entrusted with the education of David, brother of Alexander I of Scotland. In 1115 he was chosen by his former pupil while Earl of Cumberland to be first bishop of Glasgow on the restoration of the see. John, alarmed at the savagery of his diocese, was minded to go to Jerusalem, and somewhat unwillingly consented to his consecration by Pope Paschal II (Reg. Episc. Glasg. i. 6). Like other Scottish bishops of the day John was soon involved in a struggle against the pretensions of the see of York, and eventually, in 1122, Archbishop Thurstan suspended him. John appealed to Rome, and when the appeal was decided against him went on to Jerusalem, where he acted as suffragan to the patriarch. Next year Calixtus II ordered him to return. In 1125 John went to Rome to seek the pallium for St. Andrews, but without success. Thurstan was also present, and took occasion to accuse John before the pope of disobedience, and of deserting his diocese. Honorius censured John, and fixed a day in the following year for the hearing of the dispute; but a postponement was agreed to at the intercession of King David (T. Stubbs, ap. Script. Decem. 1719). At last the struggle led to the erection of the new see of Carlisle, and the consequent curtailment of the nominal extent of the diocese of Glasgow. John thereupon withdrew once more, on this occasion to Tiron in Picardy, where he remained as a monk till 1138. In that year Alberic, the papal legate, visited Scotland, and finding John was absent without license, and had left no representative, ordered him to return (Ric. Hexham, p. 99, Surtees Soc.) King David had a great regard for John, and in 1129 made him his chancellor, but the bishop did not long retain that office. John obtained numerous donations for his see from the king (Reg. Episc. Glasg. i. 1-11); he formed the two archdeaconries of Glasgow and Teviotdale, and founded the various offices of dean, chancellor, &c. He rebuilt the cathedral, which was consecrated 7 July 1136; his structure, which was burnt about forty years later, was mostly of wood, but some of his work may survive in the present transepts. John died 28 May 1147, and was buried in the abbey of Jedburgh, which David had founded by his advice and counsel. Eadmer [q. v.] sought John's advice as to remaining at St. Andrews in 1120, and was recommended to leave Scotland (Hist. Nov. p. 285, Rolls Ser.) John is sometimes given the surname Achaius; Thomas Stubbs in one place calls him Michael (Script. Decem. 1713). Dempster ascribes to him treatises 'de solitudinis encomio' and 'de amicitia spirituali,' which are no doubt fictitious (Hist. Eccl. ix. 733).
[Chron. Melrose, Bannatyne Club; Chronicles of Richard and John of Hexham, Surtees Soc., with Raine's notes; Dixon and Raine's Fasti Eboracenses, i. 197-8; Haddan and Stubbs's Councils and Eccles. Docs. ii. 192-217, for the dispute with Thurstan; Gordon's Scotichronieon, ii. 469-70; Grub's Eccl. Hist. Scotl. i. 220-3, 261-5.]